Can handling and arranging apparatus



Dec. 2, 1952 .1. BOYCE CAN HANDLING AND ARRANGING APPARATUS Filed April 22 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JOHN BOYCE BYC? nronms'vs Dec. '2, 1952 J, BQYCE CAN HANDLING AND ARRANGING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1946 4 SheetsSheet 2- INVENTOR JOHN BOYCE ATTORNEYS as 5 4 l H 6 0, e m 0 m E 1 z A R2 w mm 2 m w MWQ 3 N0. YW

J BOYCE CAN HANDLING AND ARRANGING APPARATUS Dec. 2, 1952 Filed April 22, 1946 Patented Dec. 2, 1952 CAN HANDLING AND ABRANGING APPARATUS John Boyce, San Jose, Calif., assigno'r to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware AppiicationApril 22, 1946, Serial No. 664,117

2 Claims.

This invention pertains to can handling apparatus and more particularly relates to a can discharging mechanism for use in conjunction with apparatus such as cookers, coolers, or pasteurizers through which groups of cans are moved in successive rows and from which the cans of each row are simultaneously discharged.

For purposes of illustration, the present invention is shown associated with a spin type cooler "as described and claimed in the copending application of Paul C. Wilbur, Ser. No. 658,847, filed April 1, 1946, in which a plurality of rows of cans are advanced in succession to a point of discharge so that as the cans in each row are discharged, they will move in unison away from the cooling apparatus.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a can handling apparatus which will facilitate the removal of a plurality of cans discharged in unison in a single row from a treating apparatus prior to the discharge of the next successive row of cans therefrom so that the cans will not bump into each'other or become jumbled during discharge.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for removing cans in single file from a treating apparatus from which successive rows. of cans are dischargedone row after another.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following description in the light of the accompanying drawings in which: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus for treating canned goods embodying the can handling and discharging mechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through a portion of the treating apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

" Fig. 7 is a section similar to. Fig. 2 showing a modified form of the present invention.

In general, the can treating apparatus of the present disclosure comprises a frame I (Fig. 1)

including a housing 2 for the feed and discharge end of the apparatus and a, housing 3 for a return unit 4 of the machine. Arranged on the frame I is a conveyor 5 comprising spaced endless chains 6 trained around three pairs of sprockets, namely, two pairs of sprockets l and 8 (Figs. 1 to 3) secured to separate shafts 9 and I0 suitably journalled in the housing 2 and a pair of spaced sprockets H (Fig. 1) secured to a shaft [2 journalled in the housing 3.' The shaft 9 is driven by a suitable drive mechanism I3 ineluding a motor I4 to cause the chains 6 to travel in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The can treating apparatus further comprises a treating bed I 5 having a lower inclined section l6, and an upper inclined section ll through which the chains 6 pass which are provided with a plurality of pusher bars i9 extending transversely of the treating bed and having their ends suitably connected to the chains 6. The pusher bars l9 (Figs. 2 and 3) are spaced from. each other to receive cans therebetween for movin the cans along the treating bed 15.

Each pusher bar i9 has a plurality of separator rods 2|], Fig. 3, extending longitudinally of the bed and disposed in spaced relation across the conveyor to maintain the cans in separate lanes of travel on the treating bed. The cans are fed into the separate lanes of the conveyor from separate feed chutes 2| above the sprockets l, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the present disclosure the conveyor is designed to receive eight cans between adjacent pusher bars and the cans ar supported initially on a stationary plate 22 formed as a part of a descending passage 23 which maintains the cans between the pusher bar while the chains are moved toward the lower end of the treating bed 15. A similar passage 24 is associated with the return unit 4 for guiding the cans from the lower section iii of the treating bed to the upper section ll thereof and the cans are conveyed in successive rows to the upper end 25 of the treating bed. l5. s

The upper end25 of the treatingbed is spaced from the stationary plate 22 to provide a' dis charge gap 26 through which the successive rows of cans gravitate from between the pusher bars l9 as they and the chains continue to travel in a straight line toward the sprockets l. g g I g The can handling and discharging mechanism of the present invention is designated by the reference numeral 30 and comprises in general a chute 3! -for receiving the rows of cans-discharging through the gap 26 of the treating bed. l5

and for delivering therows of cans intimed relation to a can discharging conveyor .32 which discharges th cans one after another into a can runway 33 leading to other can handling mechanism such as a labeling machine, or the like, not shown.

The chute 3| of the can discharging mechanism comprises a pair of curved panels and 35 spaced from each other and suitably supported between the side walls of the housing 2 to provide a curved can passage 31 having its mouth 38 disposed below the gap 26 of the treating bed to receive the rows of cans gravitating therefrom. Between the panels 35 and 35 are a plurality of spaced partitions 39 for dividing the chute 3| into eight separate lanes, one lane for each lane of cans on the conveyor, to maintain the cans in separate lanes of travel as they gravitate through the chute 3|. The chute 3| has a lower section 40 disposed at an angle to cause the cans to descend at an accelerated speed to the discharge end 4| thereof where each lane is provided with a can twisting unit 42 of conventional design for turning the cans on end for discharge in an up- .right position onto the can discharging mechanism 32.

It will be noted that the cans treated by the treating apparatus of Figs. 1 to 3 are disposed on their sides to roll through the treating bed and,

consequently, will roll by gravity sidewise through the chute 3| toward the can twisting units 42. However, so far as the present invention is concerned, the cans may be supported in an upright position on the treating bed, that is,

standing on end, as shown in the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. '7 of the drawings.

The modified form shown in Fig. '7 illustrates an adaptation of the present invention for conveyors in which the cans are discharged obliquely downward toward the can discharging conveyor 32 and comprises an open chute 45 having its and-is divided into separate lanes by partitions 41 for guiding the cans in an upright position onto the can discharging conveyor 32. Although the chute 45 is shown for the purpose of handling cans standing on end, it is equally adapted for handling cans lying sidewise, in which case the partitions 4! of the chute 45 are spaced further from each other to accommodate cans disposed lengthwise therebetween. Should the chute 45 'be so constructed, it too should be provided with 'can'twisting units in the same manner as hereinbefore explained in connection with the chute 3| 'so as to discharge the cans in an upright position.

The angle of inclination of the chute 45 or the lower section 40 of the chute 3|, whichever is used, is such that the cans descend along the same at a much greater speed than the rate of movement of the cans by the conveyor 5 to deliver the cans to the can discharging conveyor 32 prior to-the discharge of the next row of cans from the upper end 25 to the treating bed I5.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 5, the can discharging conveyor 32 is supported on a framework comprising longitudinal side walls 5| and 52, each of which has an upper angle iron 53 and a'lower angle iron 54 spaced apart by vertical struts 55 suitably secured to vertical flanges of the angle irons at predetermined points along their lengths. Each of the angle irons 53 and 54 have horizontal flanges 5! extending outwardly of the framework 50 and suitably secured to the flanges 51 of the upper angle irons 53 is a plate 58 while secured at spaced intervals to the vertical flanges of the lower angle irons 54 are spacer bolts 59 for maintaining the side walls 5| and 52 of the rame work 50 in spaced relation.

At one end of the can discharging conveyor 32 (Figs. 3, 4, and 5), the framework 55 is provided with a pair of tensioning devices 60 secured by bolts 5| to the respective side walls 5| and 52. Each of these tensioning devices is provided with a bearing 52 rotatably supporting a shaft 63 having a roll 54 secured thereto for rotation therewith. The upper periphery of the roll 64 is disposed in the same plane as the plate 58, as seen in Fig. 3.

Adjacent the other end of the framework 50 (Figs. 3 to 5) each side wall 5| and 52 has a bearing 55 bolted thereto and rotatably supported in these bearings is a drive shaft 65. Secured to the drive shaft 65 between the bearings 65 is a drive roll 5? having its upper periphery disposed in the same plane as the plate 58 and trained around the rolls 64 and 61 is an endless belt 58, the upper reach of which is supported on the plate 58 for sliding movement therealong.

The framework 50 (Fig. 2) is supported from the upper section I! of the treating bed'by a plurality of rigid hangers 69 having their upper ends welded to the frame I of the can treating apparatus and their lower ends secured to the side walls 5| and 52 of the framework 50. The hangers 59 support the framework 50 in a tilted position to dispose the upper reach of the belt 68 at substantially the same angle transversely thereof as the chute 45 or the lower section 40 of the chute 3| and to dispose the higher edge 78 of the belt 68 in can receiving position adjacent the discharge endof the chute 45 or 3|. Between the discharge end of the chute 3| or 45 and the upper edge 70 of the belt 68 there is provided a lip ll overlying the upper edge 10 of the belt over which lip the cans will slide directly onto the tilted belt 68 in an upright position.

The struts 55 on the side wall 52 of the framework 50 extend above the plate 58 and have secured thereto a channel 12, the inner face 13 of which is disposed normal to the belt 68. Secured to the inner face of the channel is a rubber pad I4 for cushioning the impact of the cans as'they gravitate across the belt to thereby prevent denting or panelling of the cans. The channel 12 supports the cans in a position normal to the belt and forms a guide rail 15 for lining up the cans in the event some of the'cans in a particular row should precede others thereof in arriving at the belt.

The framework 50 extends beyond the drive roll 67, as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, and has a plate 16 secured to the extended ends of the horizontal flanges 51 of the lower angle irons 54. This plate 76 has a motor 71 adjustably secured to its mid portion by bolts 18 and the motor is provided with a drive shaft 19 extending parallel to the shaft 66 of the roll 61. Each of these shafts 86 and 19 has a cone type pulley 80 and 8|, respectively, secured thereto and trained around these pulleys is a belt 82 for driving the can discharging belt 68 from right to left, as seen in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings.

The can runway 33, hereinbefore mentioned, is arranged at right angles to the discharge'end of the belt 68 and has its mouth 85 (Fig. 3) disposed to receive cans directly from the belt for conveyance to other can handling mechanism, such as a can labeling machine, not shown. The

discharge end of the can discharging conveyor is provided with a can deflecting rail 86 comprising a curved plate 81 supported above the belt 68 on braces 88 and 89 extending upwardly from the side wall 5| of the framework 50. This curved plate 81 extends into the mouth 85 of the runway 33 to deflect the cans off of the belt so that the cans will slide one after another into the runway 33 for movement therealong.

The angle of tilt of the belt 68 is such that the belt 68 and guide rail 15 form a trough in which the cans are maintained by gravity in single file against the guide rail 15 in the same order in which they were received from the chute 3| or 45. In rare instances a can may become upset by the lacing in the belt 68, fall sidewise on the same, and obviously, such a can would obstruct the mouth 35 of the can runway 33 causing the cans to jam at the discharge end of the belt 63. However, the channel 12 is provided with an elongated opening 98, Fig. 8, of a height sufficient to maintain upstanding cans on the belt While permitting cans lying on their sides to drop out of line, i. e., off of the belt 68 and into a chute 9| below the can discharging mechanism and discharging into a suitable receptacle, not shown.

Having thus described the arrangement and construction of the present invention, a brief resume of its operation, salient features, and advantages will now be given.

Assuming the can treating apparatus is in operation and successive rows of cans are moved at a predetermined speed in continuous procession along the treating bed IE to the discharge end 25 thereof at which each row of cans drops through the gap 23 into the mouth 38 of the chute 3| or the upper end 45 of the chute 45, as the case may be. The angle of inclination of the chute 3| or 45 is calculated to cause the row of cans received thereby to gravitate quickly onto the belt 68 of the can discharging conveyor 32 and against the cushion provided by the rubber pad 14 of the guide rail 15 so that the cans strike the same simultaneously and remain in a single file without undue contact of one can with another thereby preventing denting or panelling of the cans.

The belt 68 is driven by the motor 11 by way of the belt 82 and cone pulleys 80 and BI at such speed as to cause an entire row of cans received by the belt 68 to be removed from below the chute 3| or 45 prior to the arrival of a succeeding row of cans from the same. In other words, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, in each row of cans arriving on the belt 68, the can I farthest from the runway 33 will be moved by the belt 68 to a position II laterally of the chute 3| or 45, i. e., the lane L thereof nearest the runway 33, before the can III of the succeeding row of cans arrives upon the belt 68 from the chute 3| or 45. By this arrangement each row of cans discharging from the treating apparatus is separated from the succeeding row of cans sufficiently to facilitate removal of all the cans of a row in single file to a common can runway 33 leading to other can handling mechanism where the cans are given further treatment, such as labeling and/or packaging.

While the can handling mechanism herein has been described in detail in conjunction with a particular form of can treating apparatus, it will be understood that it is adapted for use with other types of conveyors and is, therefore, sub- Jest to various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit of this invention. I, therefore, desire to avail myself of all modifications and alterations coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for handling cans comprising means for supporting cans, a conveyor associated with said can supporting means for advancing cans in successive rows ,therealong, a chute at one end of said can supporting means for receiving successive rows of cans one after another from said conveyor and for causing said rows of cans to gravitate away from said conveyor at an accelerated speed for discharge in an upright position from said chute prior to the reception of a succeeding row of cans at the upper end thereof, a belt arranged transversely of and in substantially coplanar, abutting relation with the lower end of said chute for receiving successive rows of upright cans from. the chute, means associated with said belt for cushioning the impact of said cans as they discharge from said chute at an accelerated speed to prevent denting or panelling of said cans and for aligning said cans in single file on said belt, and means for constantly driving beit whereby each row of cans is promptly moved relative to said chute and away from the discharge end of said chute incident to the discharge of the next successive row of cans on said chute and prior to the reception of said next successive row of cans on said belt from said chute.

2. An apparatus for converting a plurality of rows of cans advancing in succession into an upright single file arrangement, comprising a conveyor for moving successive rows of cans to a point of discharge and for discharging one row of cans after another at predetermined intervals, an inclined chute arranged to receive the rows of cans discharged from said conveyor and for causing each said row of cans to gravitate therefrom at an accelerating speed and with the cans of each row disposed in an upright position, a belt having its upper reach tilted transversely to receive a row of cans discharging from said chute for permitting said row of cans to slide across said belt, a guide rail adjacent the lower edge of said belt and cooperating with said belt to form a trough for supporting each row of cans received thereby in alignment, means for driving said belt for removing each row of cans to one side of the discharge end of said chute prior to the arrival of a succeeding row of cans on said belt, said guide rail having a drop-out opening therein at said one side of the discharge end of said chute of lesser heighth than an upstanding can whereby cans lying on their sides will gravitate oif of said tilted belt.

JOHN BOYCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,200,244 Sears Oct. 3, 1916 1,258,958 Starcher Mar. 12, 1918 1,273,604 Gallup et a1 July 23, 1918 1,757,793 Clark May 6, 1930 2,070,980 Wyland Feb. 16, 1937 2,135,778 Wyland Nov. 8, 1938 2,329,873 Buzby Sept. 21, 1943 2,369,557 Gettelman Feb. 13, 1945 2,439,075 Christiansen Apr. 8, 1946 

